Among the Faithful [Paperback]

Dahris Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 13, 2003

Dahris Martin, a young American, arrived in the holy city of Kairouan in the late 1920s. There she was privileged to witness traditional Tunisian domestic life from within. Her unique portrait of the city and people tells of bare-foot pilgrims and Bedouin, the deflowering of virgin brides, spirit possession, and dances held for djinn. The author was born in New York, studied at Columbia, and worked for Doubleday, before embarking for Tunisia. Originally published in 1937.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"a fascinating and vivid account of life behind the veil" Katie Hickman" --Katie Hickman

About the Author

Dahris Martin is something of a mystery. Born in around 1900 in New York state, she moved to Europe in 1925 to write, living in Switzerland and France before travelling to Tunisia in late 1926. It was in Tunisia that she met her future husband, the New England print-maker Harry Shokler. In addition to Among the Faithful, Dahris Martin also wrote two books for children about Tunisia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Eland Books (June 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1900209047
• ISBN-13: 978-1900209045
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,543,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > History > Africa > Tunisia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Tunisian Wanderlust, May 28, 2009

By 

Jeannie Mancini "vernefan" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Among the Faithful (Paperback)

Dahris Martin was a young Irish American woman in her early twenties when she bravely travelled to the middleast with another female companion. Their mission was to live amongst the Tunisians, to learn their life and culture, and then bring their combined knowledge back to the states. Dahris was the author of a few childrens books and her friend a budding artist. Arriving in the mid 1930s, their destination was the city of Kairouan. Immediately after disembarking their ship after the long voyage, they are met by a rather cartoonish character, a local tour guide named Kalifa who has recently been forced out of his job due to the fact that his brother is an assassin. Kalifa still the tourist chaperone lays claim to the two girls and takes them under his wing, establishing them in local lodgings, showing them the sites, and introducing them to his family, friends and the best of the local shopkeepers and cafes. This is a wonderful and truly evocative adventure travel narrative full of excitement of the exotic landscape and it's passionate people. Humorous in the telling, Dahris details her three year stay as friend to Kalipha and his beloved kinsmen. For those interested in learning the culture of Tunisia this book will provide you with insight to the personalities of its people, their religion of devout Muslim faith, their food, their clothing, their history. Told to us in a light hearted narrative, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dahris' story and felt I was alive and well accompanying her on her journey. Riding camels with her across the desert sands, learning to cook lamb and couscous over a firepot, hearing her perform her own exquisite muezzin calls to prayer as if she were born and raised in Tunisia, watching with her as bridal ceremonies and death rites were enacted, all allowed me to feel transported to this wonderful and colorful region of North Africa's Arabic city. I read the first US edition published in hardcover titeled "I Know Tunisia" in 1943 which is scarce to find, but this fabulous true story is now available from Eland publishing in a reprint trade paperback.